Bethlehem/PNN /

In a tragic and distressing turn of events, five Palestinians lost their lives during a series of Israeli attacks in various locations, further escalating the tension in the West Bank. This heart-wrenching incident unfolded in Jenin, Qalqilya, and Qalandia Camp, north of occupied Jerusalem.

In Jenin, three Palestinian civilians were martyred, and several others sustained injuries early this Wednesday. The casualties were the result of an Israeli attack that targeted a group of citizens in Jenin Camp. Israeli forces, accompanied by military bulldozers, entered the town of Bartaa, Wadi Burqin, and Al-Hadaf neighborhood in the camp. Snipers were deployed on the rooftops of several buildings before an Israeli aircraft fired at least two missiles towards a group of civilians in the vicinity of the Martyrs of Jenin Cemetery. Tragically, this attack led to the martyrdom of three young men: Mohammed Qadri As-Sabah, Mahmoud Al-Fayyad, and Mohammed Abu Qatnah. Others were injured and promptly transported to hospitals in the city of Jenin. According to Dr. Wisam Baker, the Director of Jenin Governmental Hospital, two of the martyrs were received at the hospital, while the third was taken to Ibn Sina Hospital. Additionally, approximately 23 people, including a child, sustained injuries, with some of them being in critical condition.

In Qalqilya, a young man, Hamza Sayel Taha (19 years old), lost his life on Wednesday morning due to gunshot wounds inflicted by Israeli forces during their incursion into the city. Medical sources at the Darwish Nazzal Governmental Hospital in the city reported that Hamza had been shot in the chest and succumbed to his injuries later on.

In another tragic event, the Ministry of Health confirmed the martyrdom of a young man, Ahmed Ghaleb Mteir, as a result of Israeli occupation forces opening fire during their incursion into Qalandia Refugee Camp, north of occupied Jerusalem. Mr. Mteir arrived at the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah with gunshot wounds to his chest and head. Regrettably, he later succumbed to his injuries.

With the martyrdom of these five individuals, the total number of martyrs in the West Bank has risen to 103 since the beginning of October 2023. This alarming situation reflects the harsh and challenging realities faced by Palestinians in the West Bank, including the tragic deaths of two individuals within Israeli occupation prisons.

These recent events emphasize the critical need for international attention and action to address the ongoing crisis in the region and work toward achieving a just and peaceful resolution.